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It's Been a Long Time Comin' - Corey Hopkins' Journey of Passion and Purpose In this inspiring episode of Little Big Voices, Mark talks with Corey Hopkins, a filmmaker, musician, and digital media mentor at the African American Youth Harvest Foundation (AAYHF) in Austin, Texas. Corey opens up about the challenges and setbacks that led him to pursue a solo music career while working at Amazon, and how he used music and songwriting to process his emotions during difficult times. We dive into Corey's journey to AAYHF and finding his passion for mentoring youth in videography and life skills through the Krew12 program. Corey tells the story of meeting AAYHF leader Michael Lofton and how his belief in Corey's potential changed everything, leading to building a media studio from an empty room and creating over 200 episodes highlighting the organization's impact. Corey shares the power of speaking your dreams into existence and putting in the work to make them a reality. He discusses teaching kids creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and professionalism through filmmaking projects, and how working with the youth has transformed his own life and music. The conversation explores Corey's reflections on his personal growth, relationships, and the wisdom gained from hitting "rock bottom". Corey opens up about the role of family, faith, and fatherhood in shaping his path, and shares what's next for him, AAYHF, and his production company Love Arrangements. Connect with Corey Hopkins: Instagram: @coreyh3d Love Arrangements: lovearrangements.org/ Learn more about AAYHF's programs and how to support their mission: https://aayhf.org/ Check out Corey singing "A Change is Gonna Come" written by Sam Cooke, which Corey says is the soundtrack to his own life. The video was produced by Mark Caddell and Little Big Voices. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and consider joining the Little Big Voices community at http://littlebigvoices.com/join The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the producers. (c) 2026 Little Big Voices ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

My guest today is Don Strickland. He grew up in small towns and big cities in Texas, and spent the last 40 years in Austin raising a family and growing his career in computer technology for companies such as Schlumberger and Apple. A few years ago, Don made a decision on how to travel one of the hardest and most meaningful roads, a human faces.   He invited all who braved it to travel and learn and grow with him. I invite you to lean in and enjoy this journey with Don at the wheel. Portrait by John LangfordVisit us at littlebigvoices.com Message Mark at [email protected] Follow Little Big Voices on Facebook and Instagram – thank you! Support the Little Big Voices Community! Don’s Blog: My Road (2005 – 2020)Donisms: Favorite sayings of Don remembered by his friends and family. Don’s Music References: About Walt Wilkins On Spotify and Apple Music The album Plenty on Spotify and Apple Music Between Midnight and Day on Spotify and Apple Music Songs About Texas Music Video and Tribute to Don by Walt Wilkins   About Darden Smith On Spotify and Apple Music Blessings on Spotify and Apple Music, by Darden Smith   Wonderful Tonight on Spotify and Apple Music by Eric Clapton   Don Strickland Memorial Playlist on Spotify– these were Don’s favorite musical artists with a few additions from friends and family. Don’s Book References and Complete Show Notes: How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life by Scott AdamsMen Explain Things to Me by Rebecca SolnitTalking to Strangers by Malcolm GladwellBooks by Yuval Noah HarariMortality by Christopher HitchensFoundation Series by Isaac AsimovThe Daily Stoic by Ryan HolidayStillness is the Key by Ryan HolidayThe BibleOrwell’s Roses by Rebecca SolnitRecollections of my Non-Existence by Rebecca SolnitHope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities by Rebecca SolnitAnticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber Don's Obituary by Jan Chapman Our treasured Don Strickland – husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, grandad, mentor, and friend – slipped out of a failing body and into the next adventure on Thursday, October 27, 2022. The love of his life, Jo Ann, was by his side, as she was for over 41 years. Don made a brilliant and inspiring 4-year effort to live life to the fullest while coping with the gradually disabling effects of glioblastoma. “Please don’t let this event define your lives in negative ways,” Don wrote 3 years ago. Nothing would please him ...

My guest today is Don Hale. He was a West-Texas boy who headed to college on a music scholarship, majored in theatre, and later studied for his masters in inter-disciplinary technology.    After graduation, Don worked as a movie actor and launched several theatre companies in Los Angeles. He eventually moved back to Texas where he wrote, produced, and directed children’s musicals and created a touring theater company.    He taught language arts, history, and theatre to middle-school and high school students for over 25 years – during which he took hundreds of students on pilgrimages to Assisi, Italy. He is currently a certified Academic Coach - his mission to help students co-create and reach their academic goals. He serves and has for over for over 20 years as the youth director for a church in Austin, Texas, where he guides the youth program, leads youth pilgrimages to the Lama Foundation in New Mexico, and oversees the Youth Rite of Passage program. He just returned from his own 500-mile Camino Santiago pilgrimage walk in Spain.   Today, we’ll be visiting with Don on topics he’s very passionate about, including rites of passage, pilgrimages, and the hero/shero journey. Hang tight, y’all - this will be cool – I promise. Show Notes:Contact: Message Don: If you are a parent, teacher or young person, and would like to explore academic coaching, feel free to contact Don at [email protected] or visit his website, Academic Alchemy. Visit Us at littlebigvoices.comMessage Mark at [email protected] Little Big Voices on Facebook and Instagram - thank you! Support the Little Big Voices Community! References:Rites of PassageCamino de Santiago Pilgrimage WalkThe Hero's Journey Adult Rites of Passage:Woman WithinThe Mankind Project ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Today, my guest is Mathew Sturtevant, author, professional photographer, lecturer, and life adventurer. His photographs have graced the pages of the NY Times, Rolling Stone, Fortune magazine, and the Men’s Journal.    He is the author of two books. The first, The Sound of Austin, portraits and essays of the most intriguing and influential musicians who call Austin home, including stunning portraits of Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, and my favorites, Junior Brown and Alejandro Escovedo.   His latest book, The Topography of Fear, is both an external journey of traversing the continent on motorcycle over mostly gravel roads and off-road trails and an inward journey of facing his dragons of worry, doubt, fear, and panic attacks. Show Links:Purchase the Topography of Fear, by Mathew SturtevantMessage Mathew at 512-924-2385 or [email protected] Check out photos of Mathew's adventure on Instagram @GiddyUPBikeAdventures Visit us: littlebigvoices.comMessage Mark at [email protected] Little Big Voices Facebook and Instagram - thank you!Support the Little Big Voices Community! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Today, my guest is James Elizondo, a former Division 1 NCAA football player who shares his personal meaning-of-life stories of growing up inside the helmet. James will be with us for several episodes sharing his experiences of playing football, suffering from body dysmorphia, being a stay-at-home-Dad, and also a hunter who avoids eating most meat. Oh yeah, and lucky for me, James is also my neighbor and friend. This is part 1 of a multi-part series where James tells it like it is. Show Links:Check out Minnesota Gopher Football!Learn about body dysmorphia. ---Visit Us at littlebigvoices.comMessage Mark at [email protected] Little Big Voices Facebook and Instagram - thank you!Support the Little Big Voices Community! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★